Reviews.

American Grand Lodge hold that a Grand Lodge was legally formed which consisted of two of onc jurisdictional charter , and one of another ? We fancy not . Yet such is the case in New S . Wales . The old Roman saying , "Trcs faciunt collegium , " though applicable to those ancient Guilds and Confraternities , does not apply here or

now , and therefore , legally speaking , the creation of the G . Lodge of New South Wales is , as the French say , " hors de la loi . " We say all this in good feeling to our brethren at the Antipodes , and if ever the Grand Lodge of England recognises this Body , it would not be for legality ' s sake , but simpl y as a "fait accompli , " or as the schoolmen said , "fieri non debet , factum valet . "

THE REVISED NEW TESTAMENT . Oxford , 1 SS 1 . This , the first instalment of the promised revision of the Bible—much expected and eagerly sought after—is , now in its sale of over a million copies , if not two , alike in England and America , before us for careful study , respectful criticism , and honest approval . " We confess , with the Times , to a sense of doubt , hesitation , and even despondency , at the result of the experiment . If that great leader of public

thought and opinion can express a cautious hesitation and grave dubiousness as to the acceptance and endorsing of this revised version , we need not hesitate in our humbler measure to express our fears and indicate our reserve . What are the "doubts" of the Times , as was said of some onc else , " are other people ' s certainties , " and we feel inclined to believe that the general verdict of the Biblereading , Bible-using people will not be a favourable one .

The new version unsettles a good deal , in our opinion quite unnecessarily , and leaves much more still in " haze . " It is too pedantic , too scholastic , too hypercritical to please the real scholar , much less the great mass of readers—too intent , as the Times fairly points out , on exhibiting " verbal criticism" to lemember that feeling of reverence , and that distaste for change , which so markedly affects us , accustomed as we are to the grace , and vigour ,

and ring of the good old version . That some needful changes are made no one will attempt to deny , that verbal errors familiar to scholars for long years have been wisely corrected we cheerfully concede . But in two great points , to make use of no others , we think the "Revisers" may fairly be found fault with—as to their judgment and their correctness . I . The changes in the "Lord's Prayer , " for instance , are both of doubtful expediency and

of very questionable accuracy . Was it , for instance , needful to alter the " run" of familiar and cherished words , and bring about , with no change of meaning , a slight alteration of the order of the words themselves ? This seems to us the " pettiness of revision . " But the alteration "from evil" into "from the evil one" is open to very serious question . No doubt "To ponero " may mean , and docs probably mean , " the evil one , " but

it may also mean " whv . t is evil , " the abstract principle or quality of evil , as the old translators put it . The utmost , according to us , that ought to have been done was to put thc alteration in the margin . But the consequence of this unwise and unsound change is to make henceforth that " Divine Prayer , " the antitype of all our Masonic prayers , a controversial prayer , instead of being an universal outpouring of peaceful and loving benevolence . We

deeply regret the change . The famous passage of the " Three witnesses " is also , in our opinion , far too readily f iven up , inasmuch as , though undoubtedly the Greek ISS . know it not , the Latin do , and though the Latin are later , yet it has always been understood that thc difference proceeds , more or less , from an explainable cause , but which wc cannot comment on here . We can only reproduce the cautious words of the very able review of the Times

of the 17 th inst ., as a justification of our own remarks . " We must own , in short , that the Revisers seem to us to have introduced a good many rather gratuitous alterations . For instance , we do not see what is gained in sense , while certainly something is lost in English , by such a change as that Herod 'learned of them carefully , ' instead of 'inquired of them diligentl y ; ' or ' They , having heard the King , went their way , ' instead of ' When they had heard the

King they departed ; ' or ' All that were sick , holden with divers diseases , ' for ' All sick people that were taken with divers diseases ; ' or ' the last farthing , ' for ' the uttermost farthing ; ' or 'Having shut thy door , ' for 'When thou hast shut thy door ; ' or 'In praying , ' for ' When ye pray . ' What good is obtained by altering * that he may have to give to him that ncedeth , ' into the awkward phrase ' that he may have whereof to give to him that hath

need ; or Be ye followers of God , as dear children ' into ' Be ye imitators of God , as beloved children ? ' The alteration of the venerable phrase , ' he shall save his people from their sins , ' into ' it is he that shall save his people from their sins , ' seems very questionable in sense as well as in sound . A multitude of little changes of this

kind , while bringing no appreciable benefit in point of accuracy , arouse a general sense of unfamiliarness , and may give an uncomfortable feeling , if not something mure , to the ordinary hearer . They are pedantic particularities of scholarship which will not promote thc prospects of the version . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

AN ERROR IN THE LAST MAGAZINE . Bro . Hughan very properly points out a little error of mine in reference to a curious tract I called attention to , and which seems to have arisen in this way . Though curiously enough I knew the entry in Kloss well , having marked it , as it stands in my copy , I looked simply to those pages of Kloss for tracts , & c , " for and against

Freemasonry " from page 20 to page 5 C . The tract itself hardly properly comes under Kloss's heading of " Ritualistik , " as no ceremonial is given in the work , and it is probably a pure " skit . " Had 1 only turned over thc pages from 124 tu 155 , I must speedily have lighted on my " old friend . " This fact only shows how " errors " will creep in even in the most careful accounts , and the necessity and advisability of their being noted and corrected . EDITOR " MASONIC MAGAZINE . "

Grant s Morella Cherry Orandy has obtained a medal and a first-class award at the Melbourne International Exhibition .

Consecration Of The Citadel Lodge, No. 1897.

CONSECRATION OF THE CITADEL LODGE , No . 1897 .

The Province of Middlesex had a substantial addition made to its list of lodges on Saturday , the 14 th inst ., when the Citadel Lodge , No . 1 S 97 , was consecrated at the Railway Hotel , Harrow . The province , so admirably ruled by Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , now consists of thirty-three lodges , and the importance of the event now under notice

was greatly enhanced by the presence of the gallant Colonel , who performed the duties of Consecrating Officers ably assisted by Bros . Sir Charles Bright , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . John Hawes , Prov . G . Chap . ; and Henry C . Levander . G . J . D ., Prov . G . Sec . There was a large and influential number of brethren present , and there is little doubt that the Citadel Lodge will prove an acquisition to the province . The Prov . G . M . having appointed Bro . H . C . Levander ,

J . G . D ., as S . W ., and Bro . Henry Lovegrove , G . Supt . of Works Middx ., J . W ., proceeded to consecrate the lodge in the usual manner , and performed' the ceremony in an admirable manner , taking occasion , in the introductory address , in a few earnest and plain sentences , to congratulate the W . M ., Bro . Elias Somers , and the brethren on having obtained the warrant , and recommending the Wardens to assist the W . M . in keeping order in the lodge and

assisting in the ceremonies ; also to limit the number of members , and to be careful as to \ vho were admitted , as after once admitting a member it was very difficult to exclude him . The gallant colonel then related a circumstance which had occurred in his experience of an individual being admitted who ought not to have been , and who , finding himself out of his position after being raised , wisely and judiciously retired from the lodge . Sir Francis

concluded an admirable address by expressing the great honour and pleasure he felt in being asked to consecrate the Citadel Lodge , and his thanks to Bro . Terry and the various brethren for their kind assistance in the ceremony , including the services of the musical brethren . The following oration , which was received with the deepest attention by the brethren , was impressively -and eloquently given by the Rev . J HAWES : —

Worshipful Master and brethren : It is a time-honoured custom whenever the foundation stone of a public building be laid for some person in authority to address a few remarks to those who are present at the ceremony with especial reference to the object for which they may be assembled ; and if , instead of a material fabric , it be a society for promoting religious , moral , social , or political objects , the same course is observed , those purposes and

the qualifications needed in the members being the topics mainly dwelt on . In accordance with this rule , it is my pleasing duty this day to speak very briefly on the nature and principles of Masonry . Most of the brethren whom I now address are no longer novices in Masonry , but men experienced in the Craft . They have long since passed through the various stages which are obligatory on us . Some , doubtless , have assisted at the consecration of a

lodge ; others not . However that maybe , I feel assured that I shall have their cordial assent when I say that a return to , and a consideration of , first principles has a bracing and invigorating effect . The founders , the officers , the members of this lodge , have now an opportunity of facing anew the responsibilities which they are taking on themselves . They have to ask themselves whether they are prepared to maintain the ancient constitution of the

Order or to allow innovations to be made , fatal to usefulness , and eventually to its existence . Now , brethren , thc keystone of the arch of Masonry is the belief in the existence of a God . Remove that belief , and the entire edifice will come to the ground . I say nothing against the right of any man to hold what theological or antitheological opinions he pleases . They are an affair between him and his Maker ; but the man who says "There

is no God ( as has been said in a neighbouring country in connection with Freemasonry ) cannot , if hc be honest and sincere in his convictions , seek an ' entrance into a Masonic lodge . It is this belief that renders our burdens in life easy , and enables us to perform the onerous duties which , whether here or elsewhere , we have to fulfil . All the members of this lodge will , I hope , in due course sit in the chair of King Solomon . Let them strive to follow his example in the

brighter part of his career , and serve God with a perfect heart and with a willing mind , and He who searcheth the counsel of men's hearts continually will not fail to make His face shine upon them and bless them . We determine by our presence this day , and by the solemn service of consecration , that no change of the kind which has been effected elsewhere shall take place in the Order , and that we will have no fellowship with those who eliminate the

Deity from the universe He has created . Every rite , every ceremony ot Freemasonry is a symbol , having a tacit reference to the great doctrine of the existence of an Almighty Creator . The Prayer of Dedication bears testimony to the same truth . Let us then , brethren , never forget to acknowledge His presence . Let us say with him of old , " As for me and my house we will serve the Lord . " Let me add a few words

upon the nature and principles of the Craft . It is not restricted to any profession or creed . It has nothing to do with sects or parties . It knows no difference between orthodoxy and herctodoxy . It embraces the world with its arms , and its duration is eternal . In every part of the globe you will find brethren who will share your joys and divide your sorrows . It appeals to the common sympathies of human nature , and excludes no tribe , no race ,

no kindred of man . lhe graces which are unknown to paganism find a permanent place in its system . Charity in its widest sense of love to man , of which almsgiving is a mere branch , and sympathy are the distinguishing characteristics of the Order . Brotherly love , relief , and truth find a prominent place in the heart of every true Mason . Brethren , to you this day will be entrusted the leading mysteries of the Craft . Now this word is very much misunderstood .

It may mean either the mastery of some particular trade , as in the case of thc great companies of the City of London , or its signification may be that in which it is used amongst lis—the making known to an initiate of something before unknown . This is the sense in which the word is used by St . Paul , as also by profane writers . I

cannot doubt that the founders , the officers , and members of this lodge , many of whom are distinguished in Masonry , by adequately insisting on this point , will secure a high place for it in the annals of Masonry , and that as years roll on their numbers will increase , because every initiate will distinctly comprehend the basis on which Masonry rests , and be the nucleus of a

Consecration Of The Citadel Lodge, No. 1897.

fresh addition . Thus , the officers and members working together , every one who is initiated into the lodge , and every one who joins the lodge , will be satisfied that he will find his moral and social equals ; that it is his high privilege to be united with those who adorn the Craft with every social virtue , and who work together in the love and harmony characteristic £ of the true Mason . The three active Masonic graces upon which our system is based may

really be reduced to two , for relief necessarily springs from love , as the branches from the trunk of the parent tree . Like its theological counterpart agape , love includes in its wide sense compassion for the infirmities of others . It beareth all things , believeth all things , hopeth all things , endureth all things . The noble Charities of the Order will doubtless be liberally supported b y you , but it is not your money only , but your time and business capabilities will be

required . To see that money is properly applied is as essential as the gift of money itself . I thank you , brethren , for the attention you have paid to these few words , trite as they are . You have , brethren , the best wishes of the Craft that you may work together in peace and union for many years . Masonry is not without its witness where those graces are . It is a living power felt and seen by the world around . I commend you , brethren , to the favour and

loving kindness of the Great Architect of the Universe . May He bless you and keep you ; make His face to shine upon you , and be gracious unto you , and give you peace within and without the lodge , now and for evermore . The musical portions of the ceremony were well rendered by Bros . J . Ion Cantle , James Kift , and other professional brethren . After the consecration , the R . W . G . M . vacated the chair ,

which was taken by Bro . James Terry , who in his well known able manner installed Bro . Elias Somers , P . M . 1602 , into the chair of K . S . Bro . Somers then appointed the following brethren to office : Bros . Henry William Mayes , J . W . 1769 , S . W . ; Theophilus Inman Bird , J . W . ; Hurran , Treas . ; W . H . Lee , P . M . 975 and 1524 , Sec . ; Osborne , S . D . ; Gregory ( absent through a domestic affliction ) , J . D . ; G . H . Gilham , I . G . ; John Weston , D . of C ;

and Verry , Tyler . After Bro . Terry had delivered the customary addresses to the Master and Wardens , a cordial and hearty vote of thanks was passed , with the unanimous approval of the brethren , and recorded to Bros . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart , Sir Charles Bright , and other brethren who had assisted at the ceremony . Honorary membership of the lodge was then conferred

on the R . W . Prov . G . M ., the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Rev . J . Hawes , H . C . Levander , James Terry , Henry Lovegrove , John Mason , and William Stephens , for which honour Sir Francis returned thanks . The name of Bro . Woodmason , as a joining member , was then submitted , as also were the names of ten gentlemen for initiation . The lodge was then closed , and after a brief interval , which was pleasantly spent by the brethren in the grounds

attached to the hotel , or admiring the beautiful country around , the company assembled at the banquet table , where a dinner of most excellent quality was served . After grace , which was said by the Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . J . Hawes , the customary toasts were proposed , but owing to the lateness of the hour , and the fact that the last train for London left at 10 . 41 , they were given in brief terms and as briefly acknowledged . To the toast of

lhe , Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was coupled the name of Bro . H . C . Levander , Junior Grand Deacon of England , who in able terms replied . The next toast was that of "The R . W . Prov . Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master of Middlesex , " to which Bro . Sir Charles Bright replied , regretting the absence of his chief , Sir

Francis , who to reach Richmond that night had to leave by the 9 . 41 train . He , Sir Charles , had felt much satisfaction in being present at the consecration of the Citadel Lodge , and he was sure the working he had seen that day was a good omen for the future welfare of the lodge , to which he wished long life and prosperity . Bro . H . C . LEVANDER , in proposing the next toast , that of " The VV . M ., " expressed the great pleasure it gave

him to do so . Time would not permit him to descant upon the virtues of Bro . Somers , but the will must be taken for the deed . Most of those present were well acquainted with the ability of Bro . Somers , which he had so well displayed in other lodges . Bro . Levander concluded his remarks by wishing prosperity to the lodge and success to the ability of the VV . M . Bro . SOMERS having returned thanks , next propesed " The Health of the Consecrating Officers , " to which Bro .

the Rev , J . HAWES replied . Bros . CLEMENT , DILLON , and GEORGE TIDCOMBE , jun ., having acknowledged the toast of "The Visitors , " "The Health of thelnstallingOfficer , " to which was attached the Masonic Charities , was next given , coupled with the name of Bro . James Terry , who made a most eloquent and facetious reply . The Tyler's toast closed the proceedings . Much

disappointment was felt at the curtailment of a well arranged musical programme , owing to want of time . The following were among the brethren present : Bros . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Prov . G . M . Middx . ; Sir Charles Bri g ht , Prov . Deputy G . M . ; Henry C . Levander , G . Deacan Eng ., P . G . Sec ; Rev . J . Hawes , Prov . G . Chap . Middx . ; James Terry , Past Prov . G . J . W . Herts ; Henry Lovegrove , Prov . G . S . of W . Middx . ; John Mason , Past

Prov . G . D . Middx ., * George Tidcombe , jun ., Prov . G . D . of C . Middx . ; William Stephens , Past Prov . D . of C . Middx . ; Alexr . Mullord , W . M . 12 SS ; A . Clement , VV . M . 1310 ; Fred . Brasted , W . M . 1524 ; A . King , P . M . 45 ; J . Jewitt Stephens , P . M . 206 ; R . Pearcy , P . M . 22 S ; VV . Angus . P . M . 619 , 1310 ; JamesGarnar , P . M . 975 ; Charles

A . Smith , P . M . 975 ; R . L . Sindall , I . P . M . 1293 ; G . II . Gilhams , P . M . 1632 ; J . J . Cantle , P . M . 1791 ; j . Andrews , S . D . 209 ; F . B . Page , 214 ; F . F . Odell , 861 ; VV . Williams , 902 ; J . F . Rothschild , 12 SS ; H . D . Martin , 1309 ; E . r . Lynn , 1310 ; Arthur Thomas , 1319 ; E . Woodman , 1524 ; R . H . Dillon , 15 C 7 ; G . Church , 1567 ; James Kift , 1791 ; H . Sadler , P . M ., Grand Tyler , and F . A . Kelly , 1524 ( Freemason ) .

Bro . Dr . B . VV . Richardson , F . R . S ., read a paper on Wednesday evening at the meeting of the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain , entitled " Suggestions for the Management of Cases of Small-pox and other Infectious Diseases in the Metropolis and other Large Towns . "